Analyzing THE PLACE FOR THE EVENT-type Metonymies from the Perspective of Negative Evaluative Factors

Abstract

This paper has two objectives. First, by analyzing THE PLACE FOR THE EVENT-type metonymies, this paper points out that it is mainly negative events that are expressed by this type of metonymy. Second, this paper reveals the motivations of those THE PLACE FOR THE EVENT-type metonymies that express negative events. Metonymies are widely investigated along with the views of Lakoff and Johnson (1980), and their oppositional semantic aspects are pointed out by Voßhagen (1999). However, none of the previous studies focused on the nature of THE PLACE FOR THE EVENT-type metonymies from the perspective of negative evaluation, euphemism, and politeness. "Let's not let Thailand become another Vietnam" expresses the Vietnam War and all the tragedies behind it. Speakers refrain from expressing negative evaluative aspects from a euphemistic perspective and try to behave politely through hiding the exact expression, and listeners can also easily understand THE PLACE FOR THE EVENT-type metonymies that express negative events, since negative events are much more highly marked and intensified, as well as more prominent, than are positive ones.

O Trabalho Sujo com a Morte, o Estigma e a Identidade no Ofício de Coveiro

“…É importante salientar, também, o fato de que, na carteira de trabalho dos coveiros, o cargo que consta registrado é o de trabalhador braçal, sendo isto relatado tanto por E1 como por E3. A partir disso, fica implícito que a atividade de coveiro não é reconhecida e legitimada como uma profissão e como um trabalho, precisando ser substituída pela metonímia trabalhador braçal, isto é, chamando a atividade de coveiro de um nome que não é a sua nomenclatura comum, criando assim uma nova associação, social e ideologicamente aceita, ou seja, a de trabalhador braçal (ARIMITS, 2015).…”